Chương 205: Chapter 199: Tower Defense II

Necro Purification Ritual I (5 000 points) - A ritual purifying the ambient aether from the curse of the Necromoon. Covers 500 square meters. ACQUIRED Natural Growth Ritual I (5 000 points) - A ritual accelerating the growth of living beings, particularly effective on plants. Covers 500 square meters. Possibility to add organic remains to enhance the ritual's efficiency. ACQUIRED Guardian of the Forest Ritual III (25 000 points) - A ritual elevating the status of a Guardian of the Forest.

Strengthens the symbiotic relationship between the two parties. Increases the Guardian's domain size to 2 500 square meters. ACQUIRED Sun points: 244 Purchasing the three upgrades simultaneously, Priam closed his eyes and connected to Log-a-rhythm. Three days into his stay in Elysium, he had planted the seed offered by the System on the stump of a magical tree, the sole relic of a royal elf. By mixing his saliva with the seed, he had established a powerful and spiritual connection with the tree.

Using Micro to cut off his external senses, Priam found the glimmer in his mind symbolizing the tree and reached for it. A curious instinct, the beginning of consciousness, revealed itself to Priam. Alien senses assaulted him. He was a tree. His roots pulsed beneath his feet. His leaves absorbed polluted light. Potent sap ran through his trunk. Half of his mass was hidden in a strange dimension. As Priam tried to get used to the new sensations, he felt the System acting. The branches of Log-a-rhythm grew rapidly.

Guided by the Seven, they changed shape to form a hundred natural runes. Ambient aether rushed into the runes, creating resonance. Above Log-a-rhythm, a giant rune appeared on the surface of the protective dome. The crimson light emitted by the Necromoon passed through the golden rune before settling on the tree's leaves. A simultaneous sense of relief emanated from both Log-a-rhythm and Priam.

For the first time since the beginning of the Necro event, the light no longer sought to corrupt the photosynthesis necessary for the tree's growth. Until now, the plant had to combat the detrimental influence of the Necromoon using its Life affinity. It had succeeded, but the vile aether projected by the Necromoon remained terrifying. Now, the perverse sensation was incredibly muted. It hadn't disappeared, as Necro Purification Ritual I was too weak for that, but it had diminished.

The only drawback was the affected area: five hundred square meters were barely enough to cover Log-a-rhythm's crown. Consequently, Priam wanted to buy rank II, but was now too poor. A new input drew his attention. The System started the second ritual, Natural Growth I. This time, Log-a-rhythm's roots trembled, subtly changing position to draw a second set of runes. The resonance occurred again, and a gigantic rune was created under Log-a-rhythm and part of the clearing.

A somewhat mutated sensation disturbed Priam before he realized its origin. Log-a-rhythm was absorbing light rays, soil nutrients, and ambient aether more rapidly. It was difficult to quantify the impact this would have on its growth, but Priam thought it would be approximately five percent faster. It was little, but every bit counted. For the final ritual, the System chose to complete the runes created during its first encounter with the drya.

A large concentration of aether appeared where Priam and Dishnu had once traced esoteric lines. The ghost of the ritual resurrected as new lines drawn in the soil continued the work of the two rivals. New runes inscribed themselves in the earth while refinements were made to Priam's amateurish efforts. In a matter of seconds, a new sigil was born. Like a fractal, the seal patterns were repeated several times within each subpart. Priam felt dizzy seeing the System's work.

Was nature drawing inspiration from Concepts, or was it the other way around? The presence of fractals, structures similar at all scales, made him realize that the secrets of enchantments might be more accessible to humanity than he had initially thought. What humans lacked were the theoretical runic foundations. After that, humanity would soar on its own wings.

The giant rune lit up before penetrating the ground, rearranging the interconnected roots of Log-a-rhythm, of the herbs in the clearing, and of the trees in the forest. Taking advantage of his connection, Priam touched this new link and was astonished by the possibilities offered by the ritual. All the plants in the Oasis domain were now capable of circulating part of their Potential, vitality, talents, and abilities. Log-a-rhythm could now use the wood from the trees to create structures and constructions.

Simultaneously, the vegetation gained some improvements from their Guardian.

"I'm now dirt poor, but the tree trunks will be harder to cut in the future," Priam smiled. Bombarded with questions, he explained what had just happened while opening the Log-a-rhythm menu. Log-a-rhythm: Features Abundance - Life II Abundance - Aether I Protection III Tribulation Resistance II Secret Passage Land Owner II Camouflage II Guardian of the Forest III Mighty roots I Necro Purification I Natural Growth I Measurements Ceiling Height: 3 meters.

Interior Area: 47 m² (+5, due to Log-a-rhythm's growth) Status Current POT: 1 043 Passive gain: 100 (+150) (+10) POT/day.

(+150 POT/day: bonus - Guardian of the Forest III) (+10 POT/day: bonus - Natural Growth I) Available Themes Primo (1 000 000) Tal Quercus (10 000) Nature (1000) Cocoa (500) Sequoia (1 000) Tea (500) Abundance - Life III (2 500) Abundance - Aether II (1 000) Protection IV (5 000) Tribulation Resistance III (2500) Secret Passage II (700) (-300) Camouflage III (2200) (-300) Attraction (500) Underground (400) (-100) Comfort (500) Volume (500) Water Control (500) Land Owner III (2 200) (-300) Guardian of the Forest IV (4 800) (-100)(-100) Mighty Roots II (1000) Root network - plant intelligence I (100) (-300)(-100) Root network - plant control I (100) (-300)(-100) Necro Purification II (1000) Natural Growth II (1000) Time: 44 days since creation"Freebies galore!"

Rose exclaimed.

"You should buy these." Priam hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.

"If I upgrade Guardian of the Forest again, they might mutate spontaneously. I prefer focusing on improvements that are unavailable in the Sun Shop."

"Have you sorted them already?" Hyshana inquired.

"Abundance - Aether, Protection, and Tribulation Resistance. Unlike a bunch of minor improvements, these three will have a real impact on our future." Priam cast a thoughtful gaze upon his tree. Against his current foes, Log-a-rhythm was too weak. That had to change. Stolen story; please report.

"Well, no rest for the wicked," Alain grinned.

"With all these defensive upgrades, we can concentrate on enhancing new turrets. Rose has a good idea for that." Rose clapped her hands, suddenly thrilled.

"I was thinking of using rabhorn horns to shoot spears of light! With Tier 1 or 2 horns, we could get fantastic results." Priam's smile froze.

"Where do you plan to get those horns?"

"Hyshana will fetch the ones you left during your last massacre," Rose said.

"That way, we recycle, and it doesn't cost us a thing!"

"... Don't go down into the caves," Priam warned Hyshana.

"Is there a problem?"

"A Tier 4 is sleeping down there." The hoplite squinted.

"I guess that's where Sphinx is tackling a dungeon too?"

"Exactly."

"And when is she supposed to come out?" Priam clenched his fists.

"I plan to pick her up soon." Hyshana nodded, while Alain and Rose looked at the two fighters strangely. Priam forced a smile to avoid dangerous questions.

"Till then, we're going to sell a treasure!" Lifting Sumstreh's gift trapped in ice, Priam winked.

"It's worth around six million Sun points in the Auctions." Rose and Alain's double gasp of surprise widened Priam's smile.

"Who wants to come—" Priam stopped. A gust of wind had just swept through the clearing. Passing through Log-a-rhythm's foliage, it had shifted the leaves, creating a passage for the Necromoon's light. The moonbeams touched the ground, and for a moment, Priam saw a sentence." May I enter?" The sentence had only lasted a moment, but with his eidetic memory, Priam knew he hadn't hallucinated.

"We have a guest."

"A problematic one?" Hyshana asked.

"I don't think so; otherwise, she wouldn't have announced herself. Rose, go find Myuri to inform her that Esmée is coming. If she wants to remain hidden, it's her right."

"Okay!" [... Downloading data package from Jasmine's sub-system. Connecting to [Polyglot]... Success. Downloading into [Eidetic Memory].] Priam grimaced as he felt a part of his frontal lobe heating up to absorb the data from his system. Two tears of pain rolled down from his eyes, which he quickly brushed away. Micro could have allowed him to ignore the agony, but Priam's instinct told him to accept it. No one reached the top without suffering. You have gained the skill: [Empyrean Language - Rare].

[Empyrean Language] - The Empyreans have long conquered their entire solar system. Despite the flaws of these people, their mastery of aether is certain. The grammatical structure of this language indicates that its creators paid as much attention to the feminine gender as to the masculine. Strange for a notorious phallocracy... It took you ten years to learn English at school, and a few seconds to learn this language. Talk about lost time. MEM +3 When the pain receded, Priam merged with his mist.

He hadn't wanted to learn the Empyrean language while in mist form. His brain needed to be rewritten, and he didn't know how Unity would interact with a sudden influx of data. Most likely, it didn't matter, but why take a risk? Sharing his senses with his mist, Priam soon found Esmée. She seemed alone, which surprised him. The princess was reading a book in a forest filled with necromantic creatures. By some fantastic coincidence, none approached her.

Those walking in her direction were invariably drawn to a falling leaf, a reflection on a pebble, or the crackling of a dead branch. The most terrifying thing about her power is that one isn't even aware of being a victim... Mentally noting to build resistance to this Concept, Priam raised a mist curtain around his rival and appeared a few meters away. The image struck him. Esmée's sublime looks contrasted with the horrific ambiance of the forest.

"Princess Esmée, it's a pleasure to see you again," he said in perfect Empyrean. Micro I, his memory, and his dexterity allowed him to directly find the right language moves.

"A shared pleasure, Marquess Priam," Esmée replied, rising. She performed a bow that made a sun-colored strand fall over her beige leather ensemble.

"However, you flatter me; I am but a Marquess myself."

"With such a rapid ascent, I'm sure you'll earn the Title of Princess soon," Priam smiled.

"May I offer you a refreshment?" His rival had manipulated a gust of wind inside Oasis. Refusing to receive Esmée would only insult her.

"By all means." Esmée observed the double white doors of the rampart open, creating a temporary hole in a barrier capable of stopping her brother's best knight. His fortifications cost more than our entire base.

"This way," Priam smiled. Esmée followed him, observing her rival. A living mist, both visually and magically opaque, covered his body like a fantastical tunic. Every now and then, a flame was shooting through the cloud like a bolt of lightning, changing its color to sunset orange. Priam was wearing his power like a garment. Esmée's concept didn't allow her the same extravagance. Her rival's cloud-colored eyes, and his proud walk gave him a conquering aura.

She had seen men imitate this kind of attitude before, but it always seemed artificial. It was the nature of the First. After traversing a no man's land of traps and turrets, Esmée turned her attention to his base, Oasis. It was one thing to read its description in her [Grimoire], another to see it. On the right, a merchant and the Guardian of Secrets occupied the Forum. On the left, a group of hoplite warriors trained on a beaten earth square. Each seemed at least as competent as the royal troops.

Behind her, a woman, a teenager, and the First's father observed them from the rampart's parapet. Finally, in front of her stood a Tal Quercus. The tree didn't touch the sky yet, but its presence was already imposing. It projected an authentic royal aura. Protective and selfless, it contrasted with the stern and cold presence of her father. The influence of the Necromoon decreased as one approached, much to Esmée's delight. At the foot of the tree, a giant bear was cooking some skewers.

If the sight initially disturbed Esmée, their smell changed the direction of her thoughts. No one seems terrified. I guess that's normal with this kind of defense.

"You must feel safe at night," Esmée said, looking towards the Necromoon.

"If that word still has any meaning."

"The fortifications reassure the non-combatants."

"Do you plan to bring in many non-combatants?"

"I have many plans," Priam smiled. Esmée returned him an innocent smile. She couldn't help but ask. All rivals wondered about the First's plans, and she was no exception. Passing by the bear, Priam hailed it.

"Blueberry, can you prepare a snack for the princess, please?" The bear raised its head and looked at Esmée before nodding.

"Ice sorbet?" Blueberry's question awakened memories in Esmée. A sweet taste from her childhood returned to her mouth, and nostalgia drew a smile on her face.

"That would be perfect, thank you." Arriving under the leaves of Log-a-rhythm, Priam gestured, and a garden service sprouted from the ground. Going around the wooden table, Priam pulled out a chair and waited. Esmée realized she was supposed to sit there.

"Thank you. Is this a custom of your civilization?" Esmée asked as Priam took a seat across from her.

"My civilization has many diverse customs. I grew up reading... romantic books. A word that doesn't exist in your language but refers to poetry, sensitivity, and everything related to the romantic relationship between two people." Priam furrowed his brow before shaking his head.

"My explanation may lack rigor; I am more scientific than literary. In any case, the heroes of my childhood stories were often... gallant." Esmée smiled at seeing her rival annoyed again.

"It's difficult to communicate when a language ignores certain concepts. Fortunately, one of my powers allows me to understand your words. Thank you for your gallantry." The concept was entirely foreign to Esmée, but [Grimoire] had translated it. The mere fact that a civilization could invent such an idea filled her with joy. It meant that her quest was not impossible! Priam simply smiled as two wooden mugs descended from the branches.

"Log-a-rhythm sap is full of vitality and nutrients," Priam said.

"Oh?" Taking her mug, he lightly clinked it against Esmée's.

"Cheers! Another earthly custom," he added. Seeing that Priam was waiting for her, Esmée hesitated before lifting her own mug. How many times had she been tried to be poisoned or drugged like this?

"The only poison in there is the fast sugars," said Priam before taking a sip. Considering her rival's immortality, the gesture shouldn't have reassured Esmée. Yet, it did. In Priam's misty eyes, she saw nothing but amusement. He had understood her concerns and was waiting for her reaction to judge her character. Those who betray are afraid of being betrayed. I have a clear conscience. Esmée brought the mug to her lips. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"It's fresh and sweet!" Priam winked before taking a second sip. Esmée put her mug down, smiling.

"It reminds me of spiced kalac's saliva. Maybe I could treat you to a taste someday."

"Saliva?" Priam asked, a hesitant look on his face. Esmée realized with amusement that his hair was slightly changing color depending on his emotions. Or rather, the flames within them changed color.

"I'm sure you've eaten stranger dishes before."

"I'm French. Half of humanity finds it weird that we eat snails. All right, if you prepare spiced kalac's saliva, I'll taste it."

"The preparation is complicated, and they say I'm a lousy cook," Esmée warned.

"People are jealous," Priam winked.

"As a polite guest, I promise to praise your drink."

"Even if it's bad?"

"Especially if it's bad. If it's good, I'll be too busy drinking to talk." For the first time in a long time, Esmée sincerely laughed. Status: PHYSICAL: Strength 557 Constitution 860 Agility 552 Vitality 840 Perception 714 MENTAL: Vivacity 505 Dexterity 587 Memory 417 (+4) Willpower 1 028 Charisma 631 META: Meta-affinity 430 Meta-focus 350 Meta-endurance 354 Meta-perception 221 Meta-chance 230 Meta-authority 33 Potential: 5 268 Tier 0 Sun points: 244 [He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED.

[Tribulation]: Three Tribulations pending. Future Tribulations delayed until: Time: 164 days 20 hours 12 minutes 7 seconds. Next thresholds: 6 attributes > 600 / 3 attributes > 900 / 1 attribute > 1 200